when you can’t pee… it’s worth a shitload of money

I almost dont know where to begin.  I have been in shock since friday.  Confused too.  And scared.  In fact, I kind of missed a couple days…almost completely.

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Last friday, i went to see my lawyer with Jessie (my friend KC’s mom).  You see, on April 18, 2011, I was riding my bike and was hit by a car.  I got hurt, with multiple injuries.  Besides cuts and scrapes, mainly:

1.  I had a vulvar hematoma and couldnt pee.  At the hospital after having an A/P CT scan, the doctors did a full exam of “down there,”  and then the doctors had to catheterize me.  This injury caused a shitload of pain and I was downing percocets daily (coming from someone with a high pain tolerance!)  The dam catheter was in until April 28th, but the doctor did not clear me until June 18th, after the hematoma subsided.

2. I broke my distal radius.  At first I was put in a long arm cast on April 22nd after the swelling got reduced.  My wrist was not healing and it was unstable. I forget the term to describe the break… but I had surgery on my wrist and a Wristjack was attached on May 18th.  The Wristjack sucked.  I got out of the hospital on May 20th.  The Wristjack was on my arm until July 29th.  I couldnt move most of my fingers or my wrist.  I had PT from August until November.  I have exercises I am supposed to do for a year, because my wrist will still heal the doctor said.  I am expected to have some pain with my wrist for up to 2 years when doing “heavy” activity and I may have aches and stiffness for the rest of my life.

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I stopped looking at the medical bills coming in, because I was freaking out.  My ER visit, level 4 was $1715 and that did not include medications, supplies, lab tests, scans, or doctors.  Honestly, I don’t know what it included.   My A/P CT scan with contrast was $4386…  wrist views $545 … room and board when I had wrist surgery was $1524 per day!…. the operating room  and anesthesia was billed for the first 30 minutes and then every 15 minutes!!!  Physician fees, medications, supplies, outpatient visits, PT….

See?  Insane.

So, in my state, the injuries I got are considered “severe” and my medical expenses are above some quota.  I didnt really understand everything that was being said, because I dont drive, I dont have insurance of any kind, and I never had money in my life.  But what it means is that because of the severity of my injuries and high medical expenses, my lawyer can file a personal injury claim for damages.

As my lawyer was explaining things, I was trying to understand.  This is how I heard things…..  Medical expenses, negotiated expenses…. transportation costs….. bike replacement …. other property damage …. work ….. pain and suffering.   Your past and the impact of your injury … flashbacks,  doctors reports.   Nightmares, hospital reports … depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, fear increased , Dr. Val notes.  Driver tried to evade blame … witness reports. … lifestyle altered dramatically … statement from my boss that i could not work with the Wristjack because of my job duties….

OMG.  I never realized a lawyer did so much.  He had all kinds of papers, reports, communication notes.  He kept talking and trying to show me papers.  Medical expenses were itemized… did he take all those bills from my trash bag?  Schedules from my boss that showed my “typical” work ….what?  Written documentation from Dr. Val.. what?  Jessie was listening and I was losing track.  It seemed to become so complicated. My head was spinning… “I just want a new bike” I kept thinking….

I heard “after presenting the demand, and getting a response, and presenting another demand …. how does x hundred xx sound to settle?”  I suddenly felt a wave of depression.   x hundred is barely enough to pay for a new bike… What about all the money I owe Jessie?  What about all those medical bills… thousands and thousands and tens of thousands of dollars?  I looked at Jessie and then at my lawyer and said “you mean i won xxx… ah..  x hundred xx?”

After that came out of my mouth, I felt REALLY stupid, as I saw Jessie glance at my lawyer.  She looked at me, as I was rubbing my hands through my messy hair… “LT, its ok.  Not x hundred xx, x hundred xx thousand.  Do you understand?”  I just looked at her.  I had no idea what she was talking about.  See, I understand “hundred” because I make a couple hundred dollars  a week when I work.  I understand “thousands” because I make like $15,000 a year when I work.  Was she talking hundreds or thousands or ????

I just sat there.

Jessie then took a piece of paper and wrote something on it.  I just sat there.  She moved close to me and this is  what was on the paper:

x00 = x hundred

x000  = x thousand

x0,000 = x0 thousand

x00,000 = x hundred thousand

She watched me looking stupid at the paper.

“LT, that money will pay all your medical bills, which have been reduced by 45% from the original total; as well as some for future bills …  plus 8 months compensation from lost work, transportation expenses like the bus or cabs, other damages like your sweatshirts that had to be cut up for the wristjack, and your jeans that were ripped at the accident, a new bike, and some extra for pain and suffering.  He can show you how he figured that amount out.  The law firm will also take 30%.  The settlement is based on your total medical expenses, not the negotiated reduced expenses.  You will get an accounting statement that will show everything.”

I just sat there.  I was still not exactly getting it.  That was alot to listen to…

My lawyer said something like “I believe it is a generous settlement.  A jury might award you some more, because your life will pull at heartstrings, and your injuries clearly cause physical and emotional pain and suffering, but honestly I am not sure it will be worth it … for you.”  He smiled at me.

I just sat there… confused … overwhelmed … excited … and unbelievably  scared